This is a collection of works by Asako Yuzuki, one of Japan’s most promising female writers, who has been nominated for the Bookseller’s Grand Prize and the Naoki Prize for each of her works, including Butter and Diana in the Bookstore. This collection is a compilation of seven short stories published in the monthly literary magazine All Yomimono from May 2016 to October 2022, and is the author’s first collection of stand-alone stories rather than a series.
“Dear Ladies and Gentlemen” features a cast of characters who are full of personality, but who we can relate to, including a rookie writer with no troubles, a mother of a child who specializes in food and wine, and a girl who only looks pretty when she wears a mask. Their situations are unique. They’ve had their manuscripts rejected repeatedly by editors, they’ve had their favorite wines and sushi taken away because they’re breastfeeding, and they’ve been advised to have plastic surgery.
These are situations that could happen to anyone, but the way Asako Yuzuki’s characters respond is different. Rather than trying to change themselves to fit in, they embrace their individuality and reach out to others to help them. The joy of moving forward together sparkles in the stories of those who choose solidarity over bone-crushing hard work. Asako Yuzuki’s creation of such endearing and delightful characters and worlds is a refreshing experience for readers.